'Superman' expects to wear cape late in games

MILWAUKEE — Dwight Howard wants the ball in the fourth quarter. He wants to be the closer. He wants to show why he's known as Superman.

Unfortunately for the six-time All Star and soon-to-be free agent, that didn't happen Saturday night. Howard touched the ball only six times on offense in the fourth quarter, with one of those coming from his own offensive rebound.

Despite Orlando's 99-94 win over the Bucks, Howard made it clear that this is not the role he wants.

"I do want the ball more in the fourth quarter," a frustrated Howard told FOX Sports exclusively after the game.

"I want to become a closer. The only way you get there is by getting the ball and have coach have the confidence in giving me the ball.

"That's how Kobe (Bryant) and the rest of the great fourth-quarter players got that way. It's trial and error. When Kobe first got in the league, it took him a while to become the killer he is in the fourth quarter now. That's because he went through that phase where he had to learn what shots to take and just get confidence in taking shots in the fourth quarter.

"That's one thing that I want for myself, so I can become the guy who finishes games for my team. I want to be that guy whose team wants him to close games out for them. Coach just needs to have confidence in me."

Howard, who can opt out of his contract with the Magic at the end of this season, has spoken publicly in recent months about wanting to be traded. Specifically, the New Jersey Nets have been at the top of his wish list so that he can team with Deron Williams and be part of the team's transition to Brooklyn.

On Saturday against the Bucks, who were without starting center Andrew Bogut due to injury, Howard didn't have a great night offensively. He finished 5 of 15 from the field for 11 points but did have 14 rebounds and four blocks.

"Just run plays through me, so I can be comfortable in being the guy and have confidence in getting the ball late in the game and scoring," Howard said.

"That's what I'm worth. I want to be that guy who controls games. As a kid, that's what you dream about in the NBA, taking that shot. I want to do that.

"I'm the leader of the team. Ride my back. I'll lead. I don't care if I miss every single shot, I'm going to continue to play hard. Just get on my back.

"That's why they call me Superman."

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said there are nights he wants to get Howard the ball more late in the game, but with Jason Richardson and Hedo Turkoglu combining for 19 fourth-quarter points in Milwaukee, this was not one of those nights.

"Look, he wasn't having a great night tonight, and those guys got going and we were out in transition and hitting the threes," Van Gundy said.

"Certain nights, I'll kick myself a little if he doesn't get the ball enough, and other nights I'll kick myself if other guys don't get the ball enough. I think we're a team that has to take what the defense gives us. I don't think we've got the one-on-one isolation guys.

"Dwight missed some shots that he'll normally make."

In Orlando's final 14 possessions spanning more than six minutes, Howard did not touch the ball once on offense. However, the Magic scored on all but two of those possessions and went on a 16-0 run without Howard being involved offensively.

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